Device for regulating power generating



March 13, 1934. T, STEIN ET AL Re. 19,114

DEVICE FOR REGULATING POWER GENERATING PLANTS, ESPECIALLY ELECTRICITYWORKS Original Filed May 25. 1928 ame 2,

Reissued Mar. 13, 1934 DEVICE FOR REGULATING POWER GEN- ERATING PLANTS,ESPECIALLY ELEG- TRICITY WORKS Theodor Stein, Berlin-Grunewald, andGuido Wiinsch, Steglitz, near Berlin, Germany, assignors toAskania-Werke Aktiengesellschaft, vormals Centralwerkstatt Dessau undCarl Bamberg Friedenau, Berlin-Friedenau, Germany, a corporation ofGermany, and Allgemeine Elektricitats-Gesellschaft, Berlin, Germany, acorporation of Germany Original No. 1,894,246, dated January 10, 1933,Serial No. 280,578, May 25, 1928. Application for reissue October 5,1933, Serial No. 692,350. In Germany May 28, 1927 12 Claims.

This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for regulating powergenerating plants, especially electrical installations, and moreparticularly those driven by steam power.

The regulation of power generating plants, especially of electricalinstallations, has been effected hitherto generally in a manner that inthe case of a variation of the delivery of energy or of the load firstthe speed regulators of the m currentgenerators become active and adjustthe power supply to the power generators, for instance the steam supplyto the piston engines or steam turbines, in correspondence with thatvariation, whereupon the variation of the boiler prespower to the powergenerators entails in turn the adjustment of the boiler heating. .If,therefore,

for instance, the delivery of curre nt, or the load, of an electricplant rises, the decrease in the 3 number of revolutions of the currentgenerators caused thereby in turn causes corresponding operation of thespeed regulators in such a. manner that the supply of. steam to thesteam engines is increased. This increased consumption of steam entailsa corresponding reduction of the boiler pressure wh1ch entails in turnthe necessity of increasing correspondingly the supply of coal and airto the boiler furnaces.

Experience has shown that such and similar regulation methods sufierfrom the drawback that the regulation proceeds only comparativelyslowly, so that, especially in the case of sudden changes of the load, amutual accommodation of the delivery of energy and the generation of thesame can be attained only in an imperfect manner.

Now that drawback is obviated, according to the present invention, byrendering it possible to control the supply of steam to the powergenerators, as well as the supply of fuel to the boilers, uniformly independency on the delivery of energy by the central station. There isestablished for this purpose a control impulse on an electric, hydraulicor other system, which impulse is c'onditioned by the magnitude of theoutput delivered by the power plant. That control impulse is transmittedto the boiler plant where it also causes adjustment of the heating ofthe boiler, that isto say, the supply of fuel and air, in proportion tothe output delivered.

sure entailed by the variation of the supply of ators, as well as theboiler pressure, are either or steam accumulators, the voltageregulators, and

a number of other devices and appliances appertaining to plants of the.type in question, can be acted on by the control impulse stated.

The power generators and also the boilers may I be divided into groupswhich can be differently acted on by the said impulse, for instance, inthat one group is, subjected .to full load earlier than the othergroups, or participates in the load variations less than the othergroups. The same arrangement can be used in connection with the boilers,for instance in that one group is used for normal performance and theother for maximum performance, or the participation of certaininclividual boilers or certain groups of such as the highest performanceor the output can take place in a certain definite proportion.

The invention, its object, and subject-matter may be best understoodfrom the following specification with reference to the accompanyingdrawing, wherein an installation in accordance with the invention isshown diagrammatically by way of example to explain the same, whereasthe actual scope of the invention is specified in the appended claims.The drawing shows diagrammatically one illustrative embodiment of theinvention.

The numeral 1 denotes a steam turbine connected to a steam supply pipe2; the shaft 3 of said turbine is coupled with the shaft 4 of anelectric generator 5, the terminals 6 and 7 of which are connected tomains 8. These latter are, thus, supplied with current from thegenerator 5, and, connected thereto is provided-a wattmeter or similarinstrument 9' which is acted on by the electric energy delivered intothe mains.

'Iheneedle 10' of this instrument is-connected by a. rod 11' with a jetpipe 14' which can be turned on a pivot 15'. The jet pipe cooperates (bythe intermediary of an adjusting slide member 25')" with a lever'13'which can be turned on a pivot 12', and this lever is connected by a rod42 with the diaphragm 43'01' a chamber 441 In front of the jet pipe 14'terminates a pipe 45 by which communication is established with aplurality of regulating devices, the first four of regulating devicesbeing, firstly, for regulat- If thedelivery of current or the load ofthe generator driven by the steam turbine rises, the needle 10' of thewattmeter-or equivalent instrument connected to the mains 8 suppliedwith current from the generator is turned in a clockwise direction,whereby the jet pipe 14' likewise is turned in a clockwise direction.Consequently the jet of pressure medium discharging from the jet pipe14' strikes the free opening of the main pipe 45 more fully so that thepressure in the latter rises. The rising pressure is transferred throughthe branch pipe '75 to the diaphragm chamber 44, whose diaphragm 43under the action of the rising pressure tends to rotate the jet pipe 14'in the opposite direction through the link 42, the lever 13', and theadjusting slide so that the discharging jet would less completely strikethe free opening of the main pipe 45. Under the opposing action of thewattmeter 9' tn the one hand and the diaphragm 43 on the other hand thejet pipe 14', therefore, will always assume a position of equilibriumwherein the pressure in the main pipe is proportional to the totalenergy delivered by the generator 5 into the mains 8, that is,therefore, the total load. By adjusting the slide -25,it becomespossible to vary the ratio of the eifective lever arms of the lever 13'and the jet pipe 14', in the transference of the pressure action of thediaphragm 43 to thejet pipe 14', and thereby to adjust the factor ofproportionality between the pressure in the main pipe 45 and the amountof energy delivered to the mains 8. I

The regulating device for the supply of steam to the turbine ispractically the following: The

jet pipe 14 is connectedby a rod 47 with the diaphragm 48 of a chamber49 which latter communicates with the pipe 45 through a pipe 50-. Thejet pipe 14 through which a fluid under pressure, for instance asuitable oil or (compressed) air flows continuously, is rotatable abouta pivot 15. In front 'of the end of said jet pipe are the ends oftwo'pipes 16 and 17, the other .ends of which are connected with theendsoi a cylinderlii in which a piston 19 can reciprocate. The rod-20 ofthis piston is connected with a slide valve 21 arranged in the steamsupply pipe 2 of the turbine 1, and between this valve and the cylinderthe piston rod is connected with a .rod 23 which is rotatable on a pivot22 and and combination of parts is as follows:

If the current output or the load of the generator rises, then as abovedisclosedthe pressure in the, pipe 45 and, therefore, in the diaphragmiphragm chamber 44 by means of a branch pipe.

chamber 49 will rise. The pressure enerted by the diaphragm 48 upon thejet-pipe 14 through the link 47 overcomes the force. exerted by thespring 46 and, consequently, moves the jet-pipe 14 in opposition to theaction of the spring 46. Now the pipe 17 will be relatively more fullystruck by the discharging stream and as a result a greater pressure willbe exerted upon the pipe '17 than upon the pipe 16 and the piston 19will I be correspondingly shifted in the cylinder 18, whereby theslide-valve 21 will be opened correspondingly more, A correspondinglylarger amount of steam will then flow into the turbine whereby thislatter can supply correspondingly more power to the dynamo machine 5.The jetpipe 14, however, is subjected not only to the action ofdiaphragm 48, but also to that of the spring 46 or more precisely thisspring and the rods 23, 20, 25 and 13 whereby the jet-pipe is moved backand over-regulation is prevented.

The adjusting slide member 25 located between the jet-pipe 14 and thelever 13 is connected with one end of a double-armed lever 52 fulcrumedat the point 51 and connected at its other end with the regulatingsleeve 53 of a centrifugal governor 54, the shaft 55 of which is rotatedby bevel-wheels 56 and 57, of which the latter is affixed to the coupledshafts 3 and 4 connecting the turbine and the dynamo with one another.The centrifugal governor and the parts appertaining to it are showndiagrammatically in the drawing as lying in the plane of the same, butin reality these parts stand at right angles'with respect to said plane.The object of said governor and its connection with the adjusting slidemember 25 is solely to obtain a correction of the regulating procedurein dependency on the number of revolutions per minute'either of theturbine or of the dynamo, whereas the regulation put and the controlimpulse, just as the feeding of steam from the boiler 35 to the turbine1 is effected. v

The amount of fuel supplied to the boiler generating the steam for thesteam turbine is regulated by the regulation device R in directdependency on the delivery of energy, i. e., the electric output, of thepower plant. In this arrangement and combination of parts in which thesame letters of reference as in the above described regulating devicefor the steam supply denote similar parts, a sliding contact26 isattached to but insulated from the piston rod 20 and cooperates with aresistance 29 connected by a wire 27 with one of the poles of anelectric motor 28. The contact 26 is connected to conductor ,30 in themotor circuit. To the shaft of the motor is affixed a pinibn 32 meshingwith a gear 36 connected with the outer shaft 33 of a traveling grate 34pertaining to the steam boiler 35 in which the steam for driving theturbine 1 is generated. The v other'end of the shaft 33 is connectedwith a blade-wheel or the like pertaining to a blower or the like 37,the delivery branch of which is connected by a pipe 38 with a diaphragmchamber 39, the diaphragm 40 of which is connected by a rod 41 with alever 13 pivoted at 12. The lever 13 acts upon the jet-pipe 14 throughthe adjusting slide 25, said jet-pipe 14 being pivotally mounted at 15and connected with the diaphrgam 59 of the diaphra'gmchamber 60 throughthe link 58, said diaphragm chamber being in turn con- ,necte'd with themain pipe 45 through the branch pipe 61.

The mannerof operation is as follows: g

In the case of an increase of the output of energy or of, the load, thejet-pipe 14 and thereby the piston 19 will be actuated exactly as hasalready been described with respect to the turbine 1, but the shiftingof the piston rod causes a corresponding shifting of the contact 26relatively to the resistance 29 whereby the resistance in the motorcircuit is increased. The number of revolutions per minute of this motorincreases, therefore, correspondingly and the traveling grate is movedcorespondingly quicker whereby the boiler furnace is supplied with acorrespondingly larger amount of fuel. At the same time, the number ofrevolutions per minute of the blower 3'? increases, in consequencewhereof, the thus pro- ,duced higher air pressure moves the diaphragm 40correspondingly more outwardly whereby the jet-pipe 14 is moved back andthereby so acted on as to prevent an over-regulation. The magnitude ofthe eflect of the regulating device may be adjusted by means of theadjusting slider 25.

For the regulation of the air supply to the furnace of the boiler, aregulating device R is provided, the jet-pipe 14 of which is connectedby a rod 62 with the diaphragm 63 of a chamber communicating through apipe 64 with the main pipe 45. The lever 13 of the regulating device Ris acted on by a compression spring 66. The rod 20 of the piston 19reciprocating in the cylinder 18 is connected with a slide-valve 68arranged in the air supply conduit 67 of the boiler furnace so that whenthe piston is shifted in one or the other direction the amount of thesupplied air is varied.

A further branch of the main pipe terminates in a diaphragm chamber 69,the diaphragm 70 of 'whichis connected by a rod '71 with the jet-pipe ofa regulating device R similar to the regulating device R and serving toregulate the amount of feed water supplied to the boiler 35 through feedpipe 72, the rod 20 of the piston 19 of the regulating device R beingfor that pur- I pose connected by lever '73 ,with the adjusting member-74 of a feed regulating valve inserted in the supply pipe 72, so that,when the piston 19 is shifted, the amount of feed water supplied to theboiler will be correspondingly varied. Said regulating valve may andpreferably will be of any suitable conventional construction and neednot be more fully described.

For the purpose of return motion, the piston rod '20, similarly to theregulating device for the admission of steam to the turbine, isconnected with the link 23, which is pivoted at 22, which through thespring 46, the lever 13, and the adjusting slide 25, upon moving of thepiston 19 exerts a returning force upon the jet-pipe 14.

In accordance with the invention further regulating devicesdiagrammatically indicated at R, R and R6, preferably actuated bydiaphragm chambers connected to the main pipe 45, may be providedthrough which other accessories, such as superheater valves, watercondensing pumps, voltage regulators, and/or consumers, such as steamwithdrawal or bleeding means, hot water or steam accumulators, and/orvarious other appliances appertaining to plants of the type in questiBn,can be acted upon by the controlled impulse in question which isproportionate to the total energy output. I

As appears distinctly from the description all regulations areeffectedunder the influence of the position of the needle 10'- or thelike of the watt meter 9', that is to say, under the influence-of acontrol impulse corresponding to the output ,of the generator 5. Theseveral regulations may be varied by adjusting, i. e., shifting, thesliding member 25 located between the respective jetpipe and theadjacent lever which is connected with the appertaining diaphragm orconnected by means of a spring with the appertaining piston rod.

The action of the centrifugal governor 54 upon those regulating deviceswhich control the steam supply to the turbine 1 has, as alreadymentioned, only the purpose of correcting the regulation procedure inthe case of the eventual change of the number of revolutions per minuteof the power generators 1 and 5, respectively. Similarly also acorrection of the regulation procedure can be effected by the otherregulation devices in dependency on the boiler pressure.

The means employed forcarrying out the procedure are not limited tothose shown and described merely by way of example; there may bedepartures in the details without a departure from the inventive ideaand within the scope of the same. Transmitting the control impulses tothe several regulation devices employed in the individual cases can beeiiected, instead of mechanically, also electrically or in any othersuitable manner.

We claim:

1. A power plant comprising a source of power operated by fuel and air,a prime mover and an electric generaitor driven thereby, meansresponsive to the generator output, connected to said generator, saidmeans including a movable element, a source of energy controlled by saidmovable element, means for regulating the amount of power supplied bysaid prime' mover to said generator, means for regulating the supply offuel to the source of power, means for regulating the supply of air tothe source of power, and means actuated by the source of energy, inresponse to the movable element, to inde' 'pendently operate said power,fuel and air regulating means, whereby the source of power will besupplied with fueland air and said generator with power in proportion tothe output of the generator.

2. A power plant comprising a prime mover operated by steam produced bymeans of fuel and air and an electric generator driven thereby,

means responsive to the generator output, conneoted to said generator,said means including a movable element, a source of energy controlled bysaid movable element, means for regulating the supply of fuel to thesteam producer for the prime mover, means for regulating the supply ofair to said steam producer, means for, regulating the supply of steam tosaid prime mover, and means actuated by the source of energy, inresponse to the movable element, to independently operate the fuel, airand steam regulating means, whereby the prime mover will be suppliedwith, steam and the steam producer with fuel and air in proportion tothe output of the generator.

3. A device as in claim 1 wherein themeans responsive to the generatoroutput is a wattmeter and the movable element thereof is the movableindicator ofsaid wattmeter.

4. The combination of a fluid driven prime mover; an electricalgenerator driven by said prime mover; electrical transmission means towhich said generator delivers electrical power; means for governing theproduction of driving fluid for said prime mover, in response to thepower delivered by said electrical generator; and

III

means for governing or regulating the amount of driving fluid deliveredto said prime mover,

in response to the power delivered by said electrical generator.

5. The combination of a fluid driven primemover; an electrical generatordriven by said prime mover; electrical transmission means to which saidgenerator delivers electrical power; a consumer; means for governing theproduction of driving fluid for said prime mover, in response to thepower de'ivered by said electrical generator; means for governing orregulating the amount of driving fluid delivered'to said prime mover, inresponse to the power delivered by said .electrical generator; and meansfor governing said consumer in response to the power delivered by saidelectrical generator.

6. The combination of a fluid driven prime mover; an electricalgenerator driven by *said prime mover; electrical transmission means towhich said generator delivers electricalpower; an accessory; means forgoverning the production of driving fluid for said prime mover, inresponse to the power delivered by said electrical generator; means forgoverning or regulating the amount of driving fluid de'ivered to saidprime mover, in response to the power delivered by said electricalgenerator; and means for governing said accessory in response to thepower delivered by said electrical generator.

7. The combination of a turbo-generator; an electrical transmission linefed thereby; means for controlling the admission of motive fluid to saidturbo-generator in response to the load on said line carried by saidgenerator; and means for controlling the. production of motive fluid forsaid turbo-generator in response to the load on said line carried bysaid generator.

8. In combination, an eectrical generator; means for regulating thesupply of driving energy to said generator in response to the loadcarried by said generator; and means for regulating the production ofdriving energy for said generator in response to the load carried bysaid generator.

' 9. A power generator plant, especially an electrical plant,comprising, in combination. a steam generator; a power generatorsupplied with steam by said steam generator; and regulating devicesadapted to regulate the steam generator and pow er generator; meansoperated by and in response steam by the said steam generator;regulating devices adapted to regulate the steam generator and powergenerator; and means operated by and in response to the output of thepower generator to produce a common control impulse which is directlyproportional'to the delivery of energy by the plant, said commoncontrolimpulse serving to influence the said regulating devices, theregulating device for said power generator comprising means forcorrecting the effect thereon of said common impulse by another impulsedependent upon the number of revolutions per unit time of the powergenerator.

11. Regulating apparatus for steam operated electrical power plantscomprising in combination, master governing means connected to transmitcontrolling impulses the magnitude of which is directfy responsive tothe electrical power delivered; and regulating means operativelyconnected to the governing means utilizing the controlling impulses togovern the production and supply of steam in proportion to the currentdemand.

12. Regulating apparatus for steam operated electrical power plantscomprising in combination, master governing means connected to produceand transmit controlling impulses the magnitude of which is directlyproportional to the electrical power delivered; and a series ofregulating devices communicating with the governing means andutilizingthe controlling impulses to regulate the production and supply of steamin proportion to the current demand.

' THEODOR STEIN.

GUIDO WljNSCH.

